NightForce NXS 5.5x22-56 vs 8x32-56 on the M82/107

[SpaceAholic]

Would like to hear from others who are a proponent of either the 5.5.x22-56 or 8x32-56 Nightforce
on the M82A1/M107 platform. Is the benefit of the larger magnification range inherent in the 8x32
outweighted by the versatility of the 5.5x22's internal adjustment range (the 5.5-22 offers 100 moa; while
the 8x32 allows for only 65 moa adjustment) particularly as it applies outer edges of the Barrett's performance envelope.

I ask having just placed on order a 8x32-56 w/BORS combo.

Thanks in advance for any observations/comments.

Scott

[Shadow]

Would like to hear from others who are a proponent of either the 5.5.x22-56 or 8x32-56 Nightforce
on the M82A1/M107 platform. Is the benefit of the larger magnification range inherent in the 8x32
outweighted by the versatility of the 5.5x22's internal adjustment range (the 5.5-22 offers 100 moa; while
the 8x32 allows for only 65 moa adjustment) particularly as it applies outer edges of the Barrett's performance envelope.

I ask having just placed on order a 8x32-56 w/BORS combo.

Thanks in advance for any observations/comments.

Scott

I'd suggest getting the 5.5.-22X x 56, due to the increased MOA adjustments available - assuming you want to shoot longer ranges (say ranges beyond 750-800 yds.). At the longer ranges the primary benefit for anything beyond 22X is just to "glass" your target. The field of view on the 5.5.-22X x 56 is also much better. At power beyond, say 15-22X, mirage is much more of a problem.

Remember the BORS is Not compatible with Zero-Stop or .1MRAD (metric) turret systems on the NF 5.5.-22X x 56. So if ordering the BORS and NF from different vendors, be sure you get a compatible setup.

Anyway, If you need to see "hits" at the long ranges, IMO, a spotting scope is the ticket - if you really can't see beyond 750-800 yds. with anything greater than 15-22X.

Just saying....... Others may certainly have other recommendations.

[Hognuts]

I concur with the Shadow, a friend of mine (Vegas50 on the forum) has both the 5.5x22x56 and the 8x32x56 (we call it the hubble) and he has pushed the elevation to its limits and he has the 15/40 moa rings on his model 99. He can see really well, but regrets that he gave up the elevation travel of the 5.5x22x56. I have the 5.5.x22x56 on my 6.5 creedmoor right now, but will be moving that to the 50 soon. I am getting a USO for my 6.5 It is totally user option but all of the guys that I shoot with use the NPR 1 or NPR 2 reticle and I went with the NPR 1. I really like the moa based reticle, it matches up perfectly with the elevation and windage knobs and makes it very useful for spotting and correcting for misses both as a shooter and if you are spotting for someone with moa turrets on their scope. I suppose the same is true for the mil/mil setups, but it just seems simpler to me to have moa/moa.

[SpaceAholic]

So given the 65 MOA adjustment limitations on the 8x32, what is the maximum effective range of the M82A1 with this combo (i.e. how far can one dial out on the BORS before an offset is required?)

[SpecOpsScout]

The Barrett 15/40 rings add either 15 or 40 MOA. The LaRue mount adds 30 MOA to the mix, so using either option to mount the 8X32, should allow most or all of the scope's travel for shooting at range.

[SpaceAholic]

Since I will have a BORs, am assuming the variable offset provided by the 15/40 rings are not accounted for in the BORS software after calibration (the BORS version in use with the 8x32 is specifically tailored for that optics set with its inherent 65 moa elevation adjustment)

So my original question stands - what is the maximum achievable dial-in range using the standard rings, 8x32/BORs on the M82/M107?

[SpecOpsScout]

_Bullet_ _BC_ _MV_ 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 2200 2400 | YARDS
750gr AMAX 1.050 2600 > -0.00 1.38 6.34 12.24 18.83 26.12 34.19 43.13 53.05 64.09 76.37 90.04 105.21 | drop (moa)
647gr M33 Barrett 0.701 2800 > -0.00 1.08 5.58 11.22 17.83 25.54 34.56 45.14 57.58 72.16 89.08 108.45 130.29 | drop (moa)

Well, depending on load, and it's performance in your rifle, figuring that you'll have half of your available travel up, or about 32 MOA(provided your scope has the full 65 MOA of travel), combined with the 27 MOA in the rail, gives you about 59 MOA of travel up; and depending on your atmospheric conditions, using the charts above stolen from the web which reflect at sea level, it looks like you'll be tapping out somewhere plus or minus around 1700 yards.

[SpaceAholic]

A very respectable near 1 mile.

Still - If not already a function of the software within the 8X32 NF BORS; would be nice if Barrett would enhance the program to support inclusion of the ExRing so that the shooter can punch in an MOA offset after initial calibration - wouldn't this alleviate the issue with the 65 MOA limitation?

Scott

[SpecOpsScout]

Hey Brother,
I'm not particularly familiar with the BORs and only know what little I've read on line about it. It's admittedly a little surprising to read your post suggesting that it doesn't have an ability to compensate for the MOA of a particular mount, since it's supposed to be usable on a number of platforms. Are you sure there isn't some function to allow for this during initial set up? It seems from my limited perspective, like it would have to have some ability to compensate during set up. Even if it just asked for the initial MOA of your scope base, you should be able to simply add the rings and base together as an initial entry...Otherwise, there could be a lot of heartache with trying to get it set up considering the various MOA bases out there; as an example, my former .408 CT had a 60 MOA base, my .308 has a 30 MOA rail, my 6mm PPC has a 20 MOA base, and so on...Doesn't the BORs compensate for angle fire, as well?
Respectfully,
Harry

[SpaceAholic]

As I understand it (just received my BORS), the optics/BORS are initially calibrated based on whatever base (plus fixed ring MOA departure angle) is configured on the rifle . However the Barrett ExRings allow for a dual position offset (15 and 40 MOA) which can be adjusted at any time. So my question relates to whether the BORS has the ability, after the initial rail+ring elevation angle is inputed and the BORS/Scope is caliibrated based on the rings in their 15 MOA posiiton, to subsequently remain calibrated after the Exrings are then adjusted to the high 40 MOA offset (at which point the shooter just tells the BORS to plus up the additional 35 MOA via operator input), or is BORS recalibration required to perform the correct calculations at the higher offset ?

[Ridz]

I have the ex rings and if you zero in your scope with them at 15moa and then decide to move to 40 moa, I can't imagine that you will retain your zero since you have to loosen everything up in order to achieve the move...am I wrong?

I have my ex-rings at 40moa and with my leupold mk 4, when I program in my hornady amax load I'll top out at 2800 yards, to do this I have no downward clicks and I've zeroed out my scope/bors at 300 yards. I just compensate for 100,200 yard shots (but when am I shooting those?) this set up works for my needs and equipment.

[Ridz]

sorry, i've been re reading your post and trying to figure out what it is you need. If you can change your moa rings and you believe everything maintained true, wouldn't you just hit the "zero cartidge" button and your good to go?

[DEDMNKY]

sorry, i've been re reading your post and trying to figure out what it is you need. If you can change your moa rings and you believe everything maintained true, wouldn't you just hit the "zero cartidge" button and your good to go?

That is what i would do if none of the settings changed on the zero and so forth.